Birch Valley - Levittown, PA

Compared with the long and rich history of nearby Philadelphia, neighborhoods like Birch Valley and surrounding Levittown are still in their infancy. William J. Levitt developed the area as late as 1951. His design for Levittown, unique for its time, created an enclosed community feel, using curvilinear roads to calm traffic and setting aside locations in advance for churches, schools, and the like.

Levitt developed the neighborhood and several others to accommodate returning servicemen and women and their families, offering them spacious and pleasant alternatives to restrictive inner-city housing options. Originally, the Veterans Administration and the Federal Housing Administration helped military members move into Levittown by making rent prices as affordable as possible. Now, the same houses are home to an array of different types of families.

While few restaurants exist within the actual borders of Birch Valley, residents can find a selection of restaurants and bars in the surrounding areas of Levittown.

Located just over a mile away, Adriatic Pizza has low prices, accommodating staff, pleasingly nostalgic decor, and foods ranging from wings to sandwiches to (of course) pizza. Favorite dishes include the cheese steaks, the buffalo chicken pie, and any of the platters. Customers especially appreciate the fast and free delivery option for orders over $8.

For an introduction to the local bar scene, check out Band Box Pizza-n-Pub, which serves what many consider to be the best pizza in the area. Grab a bite to eat with your drink, choosing from a selection of typical bar foods (cheese steaks, burgers, fries, etc.) and a wide assortment of beers and mixed drinks.

The Five Four Bar serves food and drinks in a large, brand-new space complete with billiards, ping-pong tables, and darts, as well as a dance floor and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. As an alternative, Cosmos Restaurant and Bar serves innovative mixed drinks, cold beers, and a variety of moderately-priced dishes, all of which can be ordered either at the bar or in the regular dining room.

Next door, Puss N Boots has a similar ambiance, complete with TVs, a juke box, open mic, shuffle board, and outdoor patio. Prices are moderate to begin with, but the Sunday night specials provide special deals on food, such as the spicy, crunchy wings, as well as beers and mixed drinks. The crowd consists of a multi-generational mix, mostly long-time locals.

Overall, bars and restaurants in the area cater to a down-home, laid-back atmosphere that pervades much of Birch County and surrounding Levittown, where extreme prices and a wild nightlife just don't appeal to most residents.

Birch Valley residents rely on automobiles as their primary form of transportation. A significant portion of the local population commutes to Philadelphia, about 40 minutes away by car on nearby Interstate 95. While the ride-sharing service Uber can pick up passengers in larger hubs nearby such as Trenton or Philadelphia and drop them off in Levittown, the service does not generally pick customers up in and around Birch Valley. You can also reserve a cab in advance, but hailing one on the street is not a viable option. However, free public parking isn't hard to find.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) does provide bus and train service between Levittown and Center City Philadelphia, among other hubs. Specifically, the Trenton Line regional rail service and buses 127, 128 and 129 connect the two areas.

Given its strategic design as an enclosed community, you'll find Birch Valley and surrounding areas quite walkable and safe for bicycling. However, due to a lack of bike lanes, cyclists should use caution on some intersections on larger streets, particularly New Falls Road and Penn Valley Road.

There are some terrific parks near Birch Valley, such as Falls Township Community Park to the southwest and Oxford Valley Park to the east. Oxford Valley Park features a community swimming pool, while Falls Township Community Park has a dog park.

Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Birch Valley hovers around $850, a few hundred dollars cheaper than what can be found in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Given its residential nature and distance from Philadelphia and other larger hubs, having a car has become not only handy for Birch Valley residents, but the norm. Thankfully, in this area, gas prices average only about five cents more than the national mean.

Meanwhile, for those who do take public transportation, one-way travel into the city costs $6.50, though using weekly or monthly passes result in a better deal for regular commuters.

Meals at most area restaurants go for $10 to $15, and your average beer costs about $5.

Shopping areas that service Birch Valley tend towards larger department stores and a few small-scale shopping centers. For the most part, you'll have to make a trip to a neighboring town to splurge at high-end stores and boutiques.

The closest grocery stores include ShopRite of Fairless Hills and a Wawa, all within a mile of Birch Valley. The closest farmer's market, Bristol Amish Market, lies just over three miles away and offers everything from baked goods (pretzels, donuts, muffins) and kettle corn to basic produce. If visiting, make sure to check out the must-have pretzel logs stuffed with cheese, eggs, and bacon.